Malaysia Plans to Ban Social Media for Under-16s Starting January 2026

The Malaysian government, through Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, has announced plans to implement a ban on social media use for individuals under the age of 16, effective from January 1, 2026 to protect children and teenagers from rising online harms, specifically citing cyberbullying, economic crimes (financial fraud/scams), and child sexual abuse content.

The government expects social media platforms (such as Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, and WhatsApp) to comply by barring those under 16 from opening or maintaining user accounts. The ban is expected to be incorporated into the new Online Safety Act 2025.

The proposed legislation will necessitate robust age verification systems (like electronic Know Your Customer - eKYC) by platforms. There may also be potential penalties for parents or guardians who enable underage children to bypass the rules.

Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated that the Malaysian government was inspired by the actions of the Australian government, which is set to enforce a similar comprehensive social media ban for under-16s starting in December 2025. This move aligns with a growing international trend, as other nations like France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Greece are also exploring or testing age-verification solutions for social media use.

The minister also noted that the Malaysian Cabinet made the decision to raise the minimum age for social media users to 16 in October.